Etiquette

Curling is a game of skill and traditions that upholds the highest standards of sportsmanship.

A shot well played is a delight to see as is a game played in the true spirit of curling. Curlers play to win but never to humble their opponents.

Curling has always relied on the common sense, honesty and the good manners of the players and a sporting approach to the game.

While the main object of the game of curling is to determine the relative skill of the players, the spirit of curling demands good sportsmanship and honourable conduct.

Safety

Ensure nobody is standing in a position to be hit by your brush or stone when you are about to deliver

Use your brush to stop stones, using your hands or feet can result in injury

When cleaning stones from the house, avoid walking in front of moving stones

Do not lift stones

Finish your slide before standing up

Consideration for Other Curlers

Do not disturb a player in the hack; remain quiet and outwith his / her line of vision

When your opposition is playing, stand at the side of the rink, between the hog lines

Never cross the ice in front of a running stone

Only skips and acting skips should be in the house at any time and they should keep their brushes hidden when the opposition is playing

At the finish of an end, only the acting skips should be in the house until a score is agreed

Pace of Play

Be ready to start when the bell rings; don’t be late!

Ensure you are at the hack when it is your turn to play

Place the skip’s stone at the hack ready for him / her to play

Keep play at a good pace and make decisions in a reasonable time; delays result in shortened games

Care of the Ice

Ensure you are wearing clean foot wear before stepping onto ice

Body heat melts the ice; keep hand and knee contact with the ice to a minimum

Stop stones from colliding with the rink edges and the hack as it can cause damage

Avoid banging your brush on the ice; it can cause cracking or chipping

Keep food and drink away from the ice surface

General

If you are unable to play, ensure a spare is arranged

Switch off your mobile phone before play

Compliment good shots and refrain from passing adverse remarks about poor shots

Keep your scoreboard updated throughout the game (normally the responsibility of the vices)

At the start and the end of the game shake hands with each of your opponents and if you win, offer your direct opponent a drink

10 Most Commonly Breaches of Etiquette

Only the skip and vice-skip should be behind the house when the opposing team is playing

Players, other than skip/vice-skip, should remain between the hoglines and close to one of the sidelines when the opposition is playing especially at the delivery end

Other than the person in charge of the house for each team, players should not stand in the house whilst the score is being decided or any measure is taking place. Players should stand behind the back line or beyond the hog line

Damage to the ice; keep hands or knees off the ice

Sweeping motion must be across the running path of the stone: in other words no “snowploughing”

Sweeping behind the tee line: only the skip or vice skip of the non playing team may sweep when the opposing team is playing

Time wasting /ready to play

Measuring: don’t use a brush to measure as risk of moving stone and automatically losing the shot

Don’t use mobile phones on the ice during a game

Don’t cross from one side of the sheet to the other in front of the playing team when they are about to deliver or their stone is in motion